Apparatus for the manufacture of acid phosphate



n. T. GASTON. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ACID PHOSPHATE.

APPLICATION FILED HAR- 27 I920. 1,385,126.

Patented July 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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a. T. GASTON. APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ACID PHOSPHATE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1920.

1,385,126, A PatentedJuly19,'1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7 776 48 fan UNITED STATES RALPH T. GASTON, OF GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ACID PHOSPHATE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d J 1 19 192 Application filed March 27, 1920. Serial No. 369,214.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH T. GASTON, a citizen of the United States residing at Greensboro, in the county of rllilfOld and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in A paratus for the Manufacture of Acid P osphate, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the manufacture of acid phosphate, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character including a stationary circular bin or den over which is disposed a rotatable structure or frame and which rotatable structure or frame is pro vided with means for delivering thick liquid acid phosphate within the bin or 'den, together with means also carried by said rotatable structure or frame for removing the conditioned acid phosphate from said bin or den.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this general character embodying a circular bin or den, together with a frame or structure arranged above said bin or den and rotating over said bin or den and wherein said frame or structure is provided at one point with means to deliver within the bin or den and at substantially a diametrically opposed point with means for removing from the bin orden, the delivery means and the removing means each operating during the period the frame or structure is revolving.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im proved apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advanta eousfor use, as will be hereinafter more ful y set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating an apparatus for the manufacture of acid phosphate constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, portions of said figure bemg diagrammatic;

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary view lllus tratlng in detail the means herein embodied for effecting a seal between the bin or den and the rotating frame;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in top plan and partly in section of the structure illustrated 1n cFig. 1 with certain of the parts omitted; an

Fig. 4is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in side elevation of the elevator mechanism as herein embodied. 1 As disclosed in the accompanying drawmgs, B denotes a circular bin or den of requlsite dimensions and extending around a vertically disposed axis. The bin or den B is stationary and the walls thereof may be made of any material which best complies with the requirements of practice but preferably of reinforced concrete or a material steel lined.

The upper face of the bin or den B is open and supported by the upper ends of the side walls of said bin or den B are the rails comprised in the circular trackway T.

F denotes an annular or circular frame disposed above the bin or den B and said frame is provided with the wheels 1 riding upon the rails of the trackway T. Said wheels being suitably flanged so that the frame or structure F may be rotated over said bin or den B and in a path of travel concentric thereto. Any means may be employed for imparting the requisite movement to the frame or structure F and such means being generally indicated, as at b.

At the axial center of the field defined by the circular bin or den B is a chamber 0, having its lower end portion in communication with a tunnel or passageway P radiating from the chamber C and terminating at a point outwardly of the bin or den B. The outer end of the tunnel or passageway P is in communication with a well or pit W, or

provided. at its lower end portion with a receiving hopper 3 and at its upper end with a discharge chute 4:. Suitably supported by the frame or structure F and traveling therewith is an elevating mechanism E which extends down into the bin or den B to a point in close roximity to the bottom thereof. The meciianism is also of a width substantially equal to the interior width of the bin or den B. The elevating mechanism E may be of any desired construction and may be driven in a manner'which best meets the requirements of practice but preferably of a chain and bucket type. The elevating mechanism E serves-both as an elevator and an excavator toremove from within the bin or den B the conditioned acid phosphate.

The-portion of the elevating mechanism E above the frame or structure F is inclosed withina housing 6 and the upper portion of said housing has depending therefrom a hopper 7 into which the elevating mechanism discharges. Leading from the chute 6 to'the hopper H is a chute 8 disposed on an angle of substantially 50. The lower endportion of the chute 8 is provided with theflanged wheels 9, traveling on the circular-trackway 10 arranged upon the upper end of the walls or hopper H, said circular trackway being concentric to the trackway I T and to the circular bin or den B.

.X is a diagrammatic representation of a mixer which may be supported as desired and which is provided with a discharge i spout 11, positioned above the axial center ofthebin or-den B and the other structural parts concentric thereto. In swivel engagement with the discharge spout 11 is the upper.- end portion of a chute 12, herein disclosed as beingarran-gedon anangle of substantially 5 and leading to the frame or structure F at a point substantially diametrically opposed to the elevating mechanism E and which chute 12 discharges within the bin orrden B. The chute 12 rotates with the frame or structure F so that at all times the discharge ends of said chute 12 and the elevating mechanism E are spaced apart substantially 180 with respect to the bin or den B. I

It isrto be understood that, if preferred, the mixer X may be mounted directly upon the frameor structure F but as this is an obviousexpedient or arrangement, it is not believed that a detailed illustration or description thereof is necessary because the chute 12 secured to said frame or structure F isbelieved to be the equivalent thereof.

, Theframe or structure F" serves as a closure for the upper or open face of the bin or den Band to further effect such closing, the side marginal portions of said frame or structure F are provideduwith the circum} ferentially. disposed continuous flanges 14, depending therefrom. and which extends Within the circumferentially disposed continuous grooves or channels 15 provided in the upper faces of the side walls of the bin or den B.

In practice, ground phosphate rock is mixed with sulfuric acid in certain quantities in the mixer X and such mixture is delivered into the bin or den B through the chute 12, said mixture comprising thick liquid acid phosphate. The frame or structure F preferably revolves at a speed whereby substantially one half of the circular bin or den B will be filled during a working day. i

As the frame or structure F revolves. which is at a very low speed, the thick liquid acid phosphate, as soon as delivered within the bin or den B, begins to set so that by the time the frame or structure F has made substantially one half a revolution, the material initially delivered therein through the chute 12 is conditioned ready to be taken out by the elevating and excavating mechanism E. I wish to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to an operation wherein the speed of the frame or structure F is at the rate just described. After the frame or structure F has made substantially one half; revolution, the continued rotation or travel. of such frame or structure F results in the mechanism E continuing to remove the conditioned acid phosphate and. at the same time the chute 12 continues to deliver the thick liquid acid phosphate into the bin or den B from the mixer X so that with the use of my improved apparatus, manual op erations are unnecessary and in view of the fact that the bin or den B and the various lifting mechanisms are inclosed, the workmen are not subjected or exposed to the fumes.

The mechanism M is adapted to deliver the conditioned acid phosphate into dumping cars or other vehicles to be transported to storage piles or other locations as may be desired.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a stationary circular den, said den having its upper face open, a revolving closure member for said open. face of the den, means carried by the closure member at one point for delivering material within the den, and means carried by the closure member at a second point for removing the material from the den.

2. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a stationary circular den, said den having its upper face open, a revolving closure member for said open face of the den, means carried by the closure member at one point for deliverin material within the den, and means carried by the closure member at a second point for removing the material from the den, said delivering means and removing means being substantially diametrically opposed.

3. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a stationary circular den, said den having its upper face open, a revolving closure member for said open face of the den, means carried by the closure member at one point for delivering material within the den, means carried by the closure member at a second point for removing the material from the den, and a hopper positioned at substantially the axial center of the den, the removing means including a chute delivering within said hop er.

4. An apparatus 0 the kind described comprising a stationary circular den, said den having its upper face open, a revolving closure member for said open face of the den, means carried by the closure member at one point for delivering material within the den, means carried by the closure member at a second point for removing the material from the den, a hopper positioned at substantially the axial center of the den, the removing means including a chute delivering within said hopper, said hopper being provided with a circular trackway, and sup-- porting means for the chute riding on sald trackway.

5. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a stationary circular den, said den having its upper face open, a revolving closure member for said open face of the den, means carried by the closure member at one point for delivering material within the den, means carried by the closure member at a second point for removin the material from the den, a hopper positioned at substantially the axial center of the den, the removing means including a chute dellvering within said hopper, and a conveying mechanism to which the hopper discharges.

6. An apparatus of the kind described comprising a den having its upper face open, a closure member for said open face of the den having movement in a continuous path of travel, means carried by the closure member at one point for delivering material within the den, and means carried by the closure member at a second point for removing the material from the den.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

RALPH T. GASTON. 

